FORMER England batsman Graeme Hick recorded the 133rd first-class century of his career to put Worcestershire in control of their LV County Championship clash against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

The Pears were bottom of Division One with only eight points coming into this clash - but Hick's third-day 110 has given them a big chance of claiming a surprise win against last season's runners-up.

The 40-year-old propelled his side to a first innings score of 327, replying to Lancashire's below-par 161 on the first day.

But the one thing that could hamper the visitors' chances of victory is the Manchester weather that has frustrated both sides over the last two days.

The second day was a complete wash-out, while 32 overs were lost yesterday and more rain is forecast today.

Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (6-72) did his best to drag Lancashire back into the game with the wickets of Hick, Steven Davies (43), Gareth Batty (one), Kabir Ali (39) and Nadeem Malik (three).

The 35-year-old's lbw dismissal of wicketkeeper Davies was his 1,200th first-class wicket. But he was bamboozling his own wicketkeeper Luke Sutton who dropped at least three catches off his bowling.

However, Mal Loye did not have the same problems and held a full-blooded Hick pull from the first ball after tea.

In all, Hick faced 164 balls and hit 15 fours and one pulled six off Anderson.

Muralitharan's wicket of Kabir, after a breezy innings, confirmed his 18th five-wicket haul in 21 championship games for Lancashire over four spells at the club.

Lancashire's Mark Chilton (23) and Paul Horton (33) reached 63-0, reducing the sizeable first-innings deficit of 166 to 103.